Slow to Anger
by Brandy Webb
How many of us are quick to get angry? I know that I tend to do so especially when dealing with my teenage children. Yet, I always feel so much guilt when the anger wears off. Thankfully, my children are very forgiving, but I do believe it is time for me to put a damper on my quick reaction to them when they do something wrong because I am supposed to be showing them a Godly example.
Many times in the Bible God is described as being slow to anger. A few places are: Exodus 34:6; Numbers 14:18; Nehemiah 9:17; and Psalms 86:15; 103:8; and 145:8. It is one of His major traits along with being loving, kind, and merciful. Honestly, He has every right to get angry at humanity, but He refrains from being quick-tempered. I feel that it is important to Him for us to also be slow to anger. Truth be told, human anger “does not bring about the righteousness that God desires” (James 1:20). In fact, “whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly” (Proverbs 14:29).
Quick anger clouds our thinking. It makes us behave irrationally. It can lead us to sin. We can look at the story of Cain and Abel and see how far anger can cause a person to go. Now, I understand that sometimes anger may be justified. God is not telling us not to ever get angry. He is telling us to be slow to anger. Paul does state “be angry, yet do not sin” (Ephesians 4:26a, ref Psalms 4:4). The key is to not let our anger make us do something stupid. In fact, in just a few verses down Paul tells us to put away all “bitterness, rage, and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and tenderhearted to one another forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:31-32). I understand becoming angry when we see all the sinful things going on around us. I also understand getting frustrated when we see someone we love make a mistake. Yet, a quick temper is not the answer to help someone to see the error of their ways. I know I don’t respond well when someone angrily tries to tell me what I am doing wrong.
A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention. – Proverbs 15:18
Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. – Proverbs 16:32
I would prefer to be wise, merciful, kind, gracious, and not rash, critical, and angry. I prefer to not be a poor example of a follower of our Father and Our Messiah. Jesus did get angry at times, but He never sinned. Plus, He knew the hearts of men, so He had every right to get angry. His was true righteous indignation. Yet when it came to the time of His betrayal and false accusations, He was silent. He did not revile back (1 Peter 2:23). Being one who is slow to get angry is another way to be different than the world around us. Showing calm when in a stressful situation may diffuse the atmosphere around you. A gentle word can turn away wrath (Proverbs 15:1). There is much power to behold when we are able to keep our tempers under control.